• PTI delegation meets Fazl; both sides discuss joint strategy on national issues
• Opposition leaders to review conference preparations on 15th

ISLAMABAD: The JUI-F on Friday agreed to participate in the multi-party conference (MPC) being organised by the PTI ahead of its long march to Islamabad on Sept 27.

A PTI delegation met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence to woo the religio-political party to join its anti-government drive.

Both sides discussed the possibility of a joint opposition strategy on key national issues.

The PTI delegation comprised party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, general secretary Salman Akram Raja and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Barrister Gohar said opposition parties would adopt a joint strategy inside parliament.

“We will take all political parties into confidence on national issues,” he said, adding that an MPC would be convened to discuss important issues, including the creation of new provinces.

“Today’s meeting was very important,” Barrister Gohar said, adding that the opposition would formulate its future strategy through a united platform.

Regarding the PTI’s planned long march, Barrister Gohar said it was aimed at seeking justice and would remain peaceful.

Responding to a query about the Maulana declining to join the Sept 27 protest, he clarified that the PTI delegation had not visited the JUI-F chief’s residence to formally invite him to participate in the march.

‘Wave of unrest’

Speaking on the occasion, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said several issues came under discussion, including consultations on convening the MPC and the creation of new provinces.

He said a wave of unrest had gripped Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and such matters would be discussed at the MPC.

“Patriotic political parties will play their role and we will evolve a joint strategy,” Mr Haideri said, adding that political forces inside and outside parliament would be approached to participate in the conference.

He added that people across the country were facing serious inflation, while unr­­est and distress were growing. He also anno­unced that the JUI-F was holding workers’ conventions across the country.

According to a statement issued by the opposition alliance, the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), the PTI delegation met the JUI-F chief at his residence, where the two sides held detailed discussions on the MPC and the PTI’s Sept 27 protest call.

The two sides also discussed “strengthening of the country’s constitutional and democratic systems”. “The leaders also discussed the need for mutual consultation and a joint str­u­­ggle among political parties to uphold the supremacy of the Consti­tution and the rule of law, and to safeguard democratic principles in the country,” the statement added.

Review meeting on 15th

Separately, TTAP chief and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai said on X that he and Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas held a meeting with PTI leaders, including Barrister Gohar, during which it was decided to hold the MPC “at the earliest”.

According to a statement, the opposition leaders decided to meet on Sept 15 to review progress on the MPC. They also agreed to contact political parties “as soon as possible” to convene the conference.

The opposition leaders also held consultations with Mr Achakzai on the Sept 27 march. Mr Acha­kzai and Mr Abbas directed the PTI to make full preparations for the protest.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2026